The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-20
The Charges to Consumers Limited to
About Half the Cost of Coal.
Professor Cox Expresses the Opinion that
Natural Gas Can Be Found Much Nearer
indianapolis than Broad Ripple.


great difficulty in adopting what was most essen
tial--the restrictive features of the measure.
particularly in regard TO the maximum charges
for gas The views of the committeeman were
not so various but they were afraid of getting
the price too high for the people and too low for
the company. However, they were finally based
on Pittsburg rates, which are lowered by brisk
competition, and after considering the difference
in cost for laying pipes in this State and Pennsyl
vania where for miles they are laid in rock. .
Before the ordinance was considered, William
P. Fishback on behalf Of the committee APP
pointed at the Tomlinson Hall meeting Wednes-
day evening, and the committee of manufacturers
with which it acted submitted some conclusions
as to the charges that might be fixed as the maxi
mum limit He said the wage workers of In
dianapolis numbered $1,000 one-half of whom
have families. OF this families about g. so
earn, on average. 81 % per day. Their fuel
expenses about $40 per year, and for them
natural gas would supply no direct benefit. be-
cause the landlords renting to them
will not make the necessary con-
nections. For g. $50 families whose income is
larger, $50 per year for fuel is the estimate.
Woodworking factories rely sawdust and
other refuse for about two-thirds Of the fuel
used, hence, only one-third OF the cost is for
coal The tile works pay $4,000 per year Tor
coal The reduction in the cost in using gas
there ought to be considerable. AS to furnaces,
he reported that in his own he would save
so per cent. of the cost of coal. Some uses OF
fuel could not be accurately estimated, and the
price for those he suggested ought to be left to
arbitration.
With this informa .,on the ordinances was con-
sidered section by section which required three
hours discussion amending and writing. The
first section throws the pipe-line business open
20 anyone in naming any Corporation, COM
pany, individual or firm" who will accept the
conditions thereafter specified. Section pro-
vides that before any work Is done under the
provisions OF the ordinance, the company cor
poration, individual or firm accepting them
must give a bond of $4,000 TO the
city, two of the sure.ies which
must be residents OF Marion county. The
approval OF the bond rests with the Mayor, and
its conditions are that the company, corporation,
individual firm shall not modest, damage, or
interfere with any gas, or water pipes. or sewers
further, that after laying pipes the Streets
alleys, avenues, lanes and public grounds SO
used shall be restored to good condition
thsy were before the work was commenced. The
company or other persons accepting the or
dinance shall keep in repair for two years the
streets restored The bond further relieves
the city from damages that may be caused in the
prosecution of the work. Section 3 gives the
Mayor power to require a renewal of the bond
at any time when he may think it insufficient.
Section requires that all pipes shall be laid in
alleys when the same IS practicable. and no
work shall be begun in digging trenches in the
streets, alleys, avenues, lanes and public grounds
until plan of those to be- opened has been
submitted to the city engineer and the commit
tees of the Council aud Board OF Aldermen on
natural gas. Their written approval must be
given before the work can begin. If the COM
panies or persons operating under the ordinance
protest against the rejection of any
plan submitted by them they can appeal
to the Council. Section requires that when it
is necessary TO lower remove natural gas
pipes in the building of sewers it shall be done
49, nrN%A ~
panies, person persons Section provides
for the immediate restoration of pavements,
curbs or other parts of the streets displaced in
laying the pipes. Section saws the works shall
be pushed as rapidly as possible to completion.
Section provides that all pipes. mains
apparatus and appurtenances shall be OF
the latest and most approved quality and design
The mains and pipes shall be laid so as pre-
vent the escape of gas. and service pipe is to be
carried to the property line at the expense OF the
company or persons who are to supply the gas
No street, alley, avenue lane shall be opened
for the purpose of laying pipes therein between
Dec and March i, unless the city engineer. in
specific cases, shall authorize it to be done Sec
ton says il the city engineer discovers that
the work is being done carelessly, unskillfully
or with dilatoriness he shall notify the com
pany so chargeable to remedy the matter Ii 1t
is not done within reasonable time he shall
then report to the Council. which shall have
power to pass all necessary ordinances relating
thereto. Section 10 provides that the escape of
high or low-preesure gas into cellars sewers and
buildings shall be guarded against by the
company controlling the pipes and the city en-
gneer and committees on natural gas can re-
Quire it to provide system of escape pipes to be
approved by the city engineer. Gauges shau
also be provided by the company which shall be
open to the public for inspection at all times.
The city engineer is TO have the right to locate
them. 1t will be his duty to reduce or cut OF
the pressure the public safety may from time
to time require. The city attorney IS empow-
cred to institute proceedings to enforce
piance with the provisions OF the ordinance and
all statutory laws affecting naturalgas and pipe
line companies.
Section IL states that in consideration of the
use Of the streets and Of the granting of the
franchise, any company, corporation, individual
or firm acting under the ordinance shall furnish
free gas all the city Offices, departments instl-
buttons and market houses. as we'll as to all
schoo. buildings and to furnace in the m arket
to be used in burning the refuse matter from
markets, provided that the city and school au-
thorities shall make the necessary connections
at their cost. If there is more than one com
pany. IL is provided that there shall be a pooling
for this gas supply. Manufacturers shall not be
charged more than so per cent of the net cost OF
coal ut the time of the consumption or gas, the
saio net cost to be construed meaning the cost
OF mining, freight, trackage and delivery: In
case OF dispute as to the cost the Council and
Aldernanic committees on natural gas shall act
as arbitrato-s, and their. decision shall be final
For all other consumers the maximum charge
shall be 81 per month for each cooking stove
range, 70 cents per month for each CRATE stove
TO May, 81 per month for the same
period for the first furnace register
and so cents for each additional register, or the
gas can be supplied by meter at cents per 900
cubic feet If the consumer so elects. The com
pany. corporation. individual Arm operating
undor the ordinance shall, after the first year,
pay annually into the city treasury 3 cents for
each foot of pipe laid.
Section IL requires that the companies in
dividuals accepting the ordinance shall be COM
PEELED to furnish gas TO all paying consumers
whenever they apply for IL, and said companies
or individuals shall extend their mains or streets
contiguous 70 those in which their mains al
ready laid within sixty days after the Council
and Board of Aldermen shall order them 10 do
so. In Section ID it is stated that no corporation
shall exercise any OF the rights guaranteed I'M
der the ordinance until line of mains TO the
city has been laid from some gas-Drodncing re-
gion. The last section fixes penalty. on con-
viction not TO exceed 500 fine for the violation
of any of the provisions of the ordinance.
Gas Nearer than Broad Ripple.
The local exploring companies have not gone